Improvement in apparatus for feeding fuel to furnaces



C. P. LEAVITT.

Apparatus for Feeding Ful to Furnaces.

Patented Angus-H2, 1873.

Inventor M (ww/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

oHARLEsP. LEAvITT, oE NEWARK, NEW JERsEY.

MPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FUEL TO FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,650, dated August 12, 1873; application filed September 14, 1872.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES P. LEAVITT, of Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Fuel to Furnaces, of which the following is a specification:

The rst part of my invention relates to a device for separating small quantities of coal at regular intervals from a vessel containing the coal in bulk. rlhe second part relates to devices for introducing the coal so separated into a closed furnace, and for placing it upon the fire. The whole machine is intended to be moved at a uniform rate of speed by being connected with the engine, and to supply fuel to the ire for considerable periods of time Without any supervision.

Figure I shows a vertical longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. II shows a side elevation. Fig. Ill shows a plan, and Fig. 1V one detached piece.

W is a portion of the wall of a furnace, within which coal is to be fed while the fire is under pressure. To this wall the machine is bolted, so that the joint shall be air-tight. A is a vessel of peculiar shape, being a hollow hemisphere enlarged to an annular groove, a, at its periphery. A segment of an annular ring, B, iits freely in this groove. This ring is cut away to a rib-form on the back to secure less weight, and is connected rigidly with the horizontal shaft c by means of the arm d. The shaft c is free to move in its bearings on the vessel A, and consequently may impart to the piece B an oscillating circular motion4 in plane with the equator of the hemisphere A. C is a revolving plug ground and fitted into the cock B. This plug contains a cavity similar to that of a tallowcock, which is clearly shown in Fig. I and partly in Fig. III. This plug receives a continous revolution from the shaft O that may tion from the semicircular piece f through the side links t, and f, being simply supported, is moved by being struck alternately by the pins fi and t" upon thevpiece g, which is rigidly attached to the shaft c.

By thisarrangement it will be seen by the position of the pins i i' in the piece g that a certain amount of 10st motion exists, in consequence of which the semicircular piece j' does not oscillate through so many degrees as the semicircular piece b, which is rigidly attached to the shaft c. The shaft c and the aforementioned connections receive their motion from a crank on the plug C through the connecting-rod n and the arm o.

The brush s is made of straight pieces of ne wire secured to the upright rod lc. rI he function of this brush is to sweep the coal into the plug G, and the rod lo receives the necessary motion, as follows: The shaft O carries the cam m, a side view of which is seen detached in Fig. IV. K is furnished at its lower end with a finger, n, which is made to press against the surface of the cam m by means of the spiral spring g on the rod k.

The operation of this machine is as follows: The parts being severally connected and adjusted, as shown in the drawing, the vessel A is first filled with coal of a sufficient degree of neness. The motion given to the shaft c by the plug C is about ninety degrees, so that the end b of the piece B descends below the surface of the coal, which then falls in the portion of the annular cavity A, left vacant by the motion of B. On the return of B the coal, which has thus fallen into a portion of the annular space A, is forced upward above the level of the hemisphere. At this point the brush s sweeps the coal into the cavity of the plug C. The piece B then returns for a fresh supply of coal and the brush s to its position, While the plug C revolves with the coal it has received and de` posits it in thepipe P, the piston p being at that point withdrawn to the extreme left end of the pipe P. As the piece B returns with its fresh supply of coal the pins in the piece g strike upon the semicircular piece f, and thus drive the piston p forward, which, in its passage, crowds the coal into the furnace. These operations may be continued indefinitely.

It will be seen that at no time can there be a free atmospheric passage from the interior of the furnaces to the air, and, as a consequence, no loss of pressure in the furnacean arrangement of primary importance in the application of this machine to that class of hot-air engines using the products of combustion for generating power.

I do not claim the method here shown for introducing materials into the space p by means of the plug C, for that is a common device for lubricating cylinders of steam-engines, &c.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The plug C, in combination with the pipe l?, the piston p, the vessel A, and piece B, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. Combination of the piece B with the vessel A, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

CEAS. l?. LEAVITT. Witnesses:

W. F. STEARNs, J OHN MORRISON. 

